TIMES RECORDER: Knells: Husband and wife chosen as artists of the month (11/02/2016)

There are two Knells, Marilyn and Myron, showing works as November’s ArtCoz artists of the month at Signature M Studio in Room 101 at the Masonic Temple , 38 N. Fourth St. Words can be view from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday during the monthly Art Walk.

Best known as a long time local gastroenterologist, Myron Knell has found a passion for woodworking in retirement. He’s been retired for five years and woodworking has become more than a past time during that period for him, with travel and five grandsons all filling the hours.

“I’ve been doing woodworking for probably 40 years. I’ve always been fascinated by wood turning,” he said. “Wilbur Mock was my mentor and he got me started with wood turning. I just enjoy it so much that it has become a passion. People talk about having a passion and it really is for me.”

Showing an intricately patterned bowl formed from exotic woods, Myron explained, “Most wood turners start with making a solid wood bowl and I liked that but you are kind of limited on the possibilities just doing that. I started doing segmented bowls and that really fascinates me.”

The one he held had 343 pieces of wood put together. Myron said one gets tired of doing the same thing all the time so you have to graduate and try to something new.

I really enjoy contrasting different species of wood and making different designs. It is almost limitless,” he continued. “I enjoy making the medallions for the bottoms. I love the feel of wood, the smell of it and having the sawdust fly.”

Marilyn Knell began painting after she and Myron built a new house.

“We had a lot of blank wall space. So I started throwing paint around and trying abstracts. It was a lot of fun but it didn’t really go anywhere,” she said. “I started taking lessons with Linda Regula and she helped me find my voice. I found that I loved painting animals and I still do.”

Marilyn started doing realistic animals, with the goal to get them as lifelike looking as possible. Now, she’s trying more abstract figures while trying to elicit the same emotion and message.

Although she paints from her own heart and mind, Marilyn prefers for people seeing her work to see what they need to see.

“I hope my audience sees whatever they want to see. I try not to influence that. Sometimes they will see something that I didn’t necessarily intend and that’s alright,” she said. “Whatever they see is fine. That’s what pleases them when they see that way.”

Marilyn also paints pet portraits and this work has moved her to try new works featuring children, as well as the abstracts.

“It was hard for me to get to the abstract. I’m more comfortable doing the more realistic pieces. Those you just go and do. The abstract has to be planned better. I like it when it comes out,” she said. “I don’t have a ‘what’s next’ yet. I don’t think I’ll ever go away from animals being central to my work. There’s a message I’m trying to pound across. The animals I paint have families just like us. You can see so much in their eyes.”